More Visitors, but Spending Down

THE number of international visitors to New Zealand increased 3.8 percent in the year to September 2010, but the amount they spent declined 5.4 percent to $5,800 million.

Ministry of Economic Development director Roger Wigglesworth says: “More Australians visited New Zealand in the past year than in any other year since 1985.

“However they, like the long-haul visitors from the UK and the US, spent considerably less during their trips. “On the other hand Korean and Chinese visitor numbers increased 16 percent and 11 percent respectively and their spending increased 18 percent and 20 percent respectively to reach a combined total of $605 million in the past year.”

Other key points:

* Australian visitors now make up 44.5 percent of all holidaymakers.

* The total expenditure by Chinese visitors at $382 million makes China the fourth most important source of tourists. They spent on average $3,600 during their stay.

* Japanese visitors continue to spend the most during their visits ($4,400 per person) but this was down 14 percent on last year.

Impact

“The results of the International Visitors Survey (IVS) appear to reflect the continuing impact of the global recession on international travel decisions. In addition, the relative strength of the New Zealand dollar seems to have affected both the number of visitors and the level of spending by travellers from the UK and US,” adds Dr Wigglesworth.

Rebounding

“It is great to see that the number of tourists and spending from the Asian markets is rebounding so strongly. It is to be hoped that as economic conditions in our long haul markets improve and exchange rates are readjusted over the next 12 months, we will see a steady increase overall in both tourism numbers and spending levels.” South Koreans parted with an extra 18 percent to give us $223 million.

But German expenditure was down 12 percent (over)